Alexander, Hatch introduce bill repealing individual mandate

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WVLT) -- Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) is teaming up with fellow Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah) to introduce new legislation to repeal the requirement that nearly all Americans have health insurance starting next year.

“This health care law is an historic mistake that expands a health-care system we already can’t afford, drives up individual premiums, and then taxes Americans to pay for it,” said Alexander, who was recently named the GOP's ranking member on the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

The American Liberty Restoration Act would strike the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that required individuals to buy health insurance.

“Congress should repeal the law, especially the individual mandate, and then proceed step by step to reduce the cost of health care so more Americans can afford to buy insurance,” continued Alexander.

Hatch and Alexander claimed the Affordable Act, often called ObamaCare, is unprecedented for its requirement that the American people "purchase something they may not want."

“The $2.6 trillion health law is driving up health care costs, increasing taxes on families, stifling job creation, and reducing the quality of patient care,” said Hatch. “What’s more, it for the first time in our nation’s history requires every American to purchase insurance even if they don’t want it."

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